Well head controller



July 25, 1933. i VAN HOOYDQNK 1,920,040

WELL HEAD CONTROLLER Filed July 29, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l a l v v I 7r 7z/@.]- a 64 625 P vaa H! J7 amnion IZ-k 5 Q My Vazafiooydaflfi,

Jufiy 25, 1933. VAN HOOYDQNK 1,920fi40 WELL HEAD CONTROLLER Filed July 29; 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Van lyoqydon f,

y 1933- H. VAN HOOYDONK 1,920,040

WELL HEAD CONTROLLER Filed July 29, 1931 3 Sheets-Shed s Patented July 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELL HEAD CONTROLLER Application filed July 29, 1931.

This invention relates to apparatus for the control of oil wells, particularly wells which come in as wild gushers. It is common knowledge that the loss of life, property damage and waste of oil, as well as effort and expense in getting wild wells under control is of appalling proportions.

' It is an object of this invention to provide a method of controlling such a well by checking its flow at the well head through means of a closure moved by distantly controlled creation of unbalanced pressures applied to opposed portions of the closure.

Another object is the provision of a meth- 0d of closing of]? a well head by direct action of pressure from the well, controlled in its application from a point located beyond the danger zone at the well head.

Another object is the provision of means for closing a well head by pressure derived from the well and operated from a remote control point.

Another object is the provision of a well head control having means controlled from a remote point for checking and diverting the well flow, and for reopening the well head when cap ed.

A further ob]ect is the provision of means for effecting the controlled withdrawal from a producing well of the drill string and tools, and including means for preventing a blow out through the drill stem and well head in so doing. I

Other objects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The herein de-- scribed embodiment of the invention constitutes the best means Ihave thus far devised for reducing the invention to practice. It is intended that the disclosure details shall not constitute structural limitations, as any desired modifications and changes may be made therein which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In its broad aspects the invention embodies a wellhead fitting having a closure member adapted to be reciprocated across the well bore in moving to closed and open positions. The motive power preferred is pressure derived from the well itself, but the closure can also be operated, if desired,

Serial No. 553,827.

by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure supplied to the well head.- lhe motive power and operation is controlled from a remote point so that the well need not be approached in order that it may be reduced and controlled. Figure 1 of the drawings is an elevatio of my well head control in service position.

Figure 2 is substantially a longitudinal 7 section therethrough.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section illustrating the cut-oil in closed position.

Figure 4 is a transverse section on line H of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through the tool holding mechanism of the invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section through Figure 5 showing the holding means in operative position.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective of a clamping element employed.

Figure 8 .is a sectional showing ofthe means employed for preventing a blow out through the drill string.

In detail the disclosed embodiment of the invention consists of a well head fitting, such as a well head casting 10 formed with the usualvertical well bore passage 11 and having a baseflange 12 by which it is secured to a well casing "13. The head 10 is also provided with a top flange 14.

At one side of the bore 11 the head casting 10 is provided with a laterally disposed cylinder 15 opening at its inner end into the bore and closed at its outer end by an 35 end plate 16, and slidable within the cylinder is a piston valve member 17 which in this instance constitutes a closure member for the bore 11.. The piston 17 is adapted to be reciprocated within the cylinder and to be projected therefrom across the bore to engage its inner end 18 within a cylindrical holding chamber 19 aligned with the cylinder 15 on the oppositeside of the bore.

The :chamber 19 is reduced at its outer end through which is provided a reduced load ofi' boreor passage 20 extending laterallv of the well head from whence it communicates through a valve 21 with a pipe line 22 leading to distant storage means, 109

e and if desired.

not shown. The end of chamber 19 forms a valve seat surrounding the passage 20, upon which seat is disposed a compressible packing 23, preferably of rubber.

The length of. the piston 17 is substantially two-thirds that of the cylinder and the piston is normally positioned with its end 18 just clear of the bore 11, being anchored in this position by a latch 24 engaged in a socket provided for the purpose in the piston body. The latch 24 works through a housing 25 on the cylinder wall, being provided with a stem 26 slidable through a cap nut 27 threaded on the housing and forming a bearing for one end of an expansion spring 8 coiled about the latch stem with its opposite end bearing against a shoulder 29 on the stem, the spring acting to project the latch body 24 through a slot provided therefor in the cylinder wall and into its seat in the body of the piston.

The latch housing 25 is formed with a reduced portion internally ground to provide a valve seat 30 against which the shoulder 29 of the latch stem seats when the latch is retracted, the shoulder being shaped and ground in conformity with the seat 30. The latch stem 26 is provided with a pin 31 on its outer end which is engaged through an eye 32 on the end of the short arm 33 of a bell crank lever fulcrumed at 34 on a bracket 35 extending from the cylinder 15. The long arm 36 of the lever is provided at its outer end with an eye 37 to which is attached a pull cable 38 leading to a remote control point, not shown, spaced well away from the well head.

The piston 17 intermediate its ends is provided with a radial port 39 of a diameter equal to that of the bore 11 with which the port registers as the piston is moved across the well head. The piston is further provided with a central longitudinal passage 40 opening from the end 18 and communicating at its inner end with the port 39. This passageway 40 is reduced with respect to the diameter of port 39 but may be somewhat larger than the passage 20 with which it is adapted to register.

At its outer end the piston is slightly reduced to receive thereover an inwardly directed leather plunger cap 41 against the outer face of which bears a retaining plate 42. A second and outwardly directed leather plunger cap 43 seats against the outer face of plate 42 and the two caps and plate are secured to the piston end by bolts 44. An expansion spring 45 is disposed in the cylinder between the piston end and the end plate 16 and extending axially from the piston end are a pair of spaced stud bolts 46 having oppositely directed parallel hooked terminals to cooperate with means for efiectin g mechanical movement of the piston when The means for mechanically operating the piston consists of a stem 47 slidable axially of the cylinder 15 through a stufling box bearing 48 on the end plate 16. This stem is provided with a head 49 at its inner end adapted to bear against the piston end between the terminal hooks of the bolts 46. A hand wheel 50 splined to the outer end of the stem 47 provides means whereby the T head 49 may be given a turn to engage the head flanges with the hooks or disengage them as the case may be. Stem 47 is threaded to receive thereover a travelling jack nut 51 provided with operating handles 52, which nut cooperates with a holding socket 53 on the bearing 48 in a well known manner, whereby the stem 47 may be moved'in the desired direction by rotation of the jack nut.

Beneath the cylinder 15 the well head is provided with a by-pass 54 having a passage 55 open to the bore 11 at one end and opening at its other end into the cylinder in the space between the piston end and the end plate 16. A branch passage 56 leads from the by-pass passage 55 into the cylinder being normally closed by the outer end of the piston as shown in Figure 2. The passageway through the by-pass is controlled by valves 57, 58 and 59 which under service conditions normally remain constantly open.

A pressure relief valve 60 leads from the cylinder 15 adjacent its forward end, and this valve has an operating wheel 61 controlled fronr a remote control point by means of an operating cable 62. The valve 21 has its stem 63 provided with an operating wheel 64 adapted to be manipulated from a remote control point by an operating cable 65 passed therearound. In this connection it may be noted that all of the cables 38, 62 and 65 lead to the same control point, previously stated as not shown which is located well beyond the danger zone at the well head.

Under normal drilling conditions the parts assume the position as indicated in Figures 1 and 2 with the piston valve 17 latched in a position to clear the bore 11. Under these conditions the passage 55 of the bypass 54 is open throughout its extent and the valve 21 controlling the lead off passage 20 is maintained in partly opened condition. If the well comes in as a gusher which cannot be controlled through the means ordinarily employed, an operator at the remote control station pulls upon the cable 38 to release the latch 24. The pressure of the gushing column of oil within the bore 11 prior to the release of the latch 24 has acted through the bypass 54 againstthe end of the piston valve 17. Immediately upon release of the latch the pressure acting against the movement with increased power as soon as the end of the piston moves past the branch 56 and until the piston 17 has been moved across the bore to engage its end 18 against the valve seat 23. \Vhen this occurs the port 39 will be in registry with the bore 11 and the flow from the well will be diverted laterally through the passage 40 and through passage 20 into the lead off 22.

Owing to the restricted space of the chamber 19 and the reduction of the passage 20, as the piston 17 moves across the bore there follows a building up of back pressure acting against the piston end 18 in opposition to the uncontrolled well pressure acting against the forward end of the piston. This back pressure is regulated by manipulation of the valve 21 through the cable 65. 1 As the valve is opened to its full extent the back pressure is relieved and an unbalance of pressure acting against opposite ends of the piston 17 is caused. It is the degree of this unbalance controlled through manipulation of the valve 21 which regulates the speed at which the closure member comprising the piston 17 travels across the bore 11. With the piston 17 completely projected across the bore the well flow may, if desired, be cut off entirely by closing the valve 21 or the diverted flow may be permitted to continue to distant storage means, not shown, until the well has been properly capped.

When it is desired to return the piston 17 to its open position the cable 62 is manipulated to open the pressure relief valve 60. Immediately thereupon the back pressure effected through cutting down or closing the valve 21 operates to move the piston back across the bore 11 with a positive actuation and at a rate of speed which may be controlled by regulating the exhaust through the relief valve 60. In, the return of the piston the spring 45 functions to cushion its movement and to permit of a re-engagement of the latch 24 whereby the piston is retained 1n open position. If desired, prior to the returning operation of the piston the valves in the by-pass line may be closed or may be so regulated that a diminished pressure is transmitted to the cylinder in advance of the returning piston to assist the cushioning action of the spring 45. Under the enormously high pressures existing at the well head under gusher conditions it is apparent that without some means of regulating the rate of travel the closure member might be operated in a manner which would bring about breakage and blowing out of the parts.

By means of the Jack nut 51 the piston may be operated either to closed or open position manually if so desired. It is to be understood that the piston 17 is provided with conventional means for preventing rotation thereof within the cylinder and that it will also be equipped with packing rings poses.

to prevent leakage past the piston. These details being common mechanical expedients, have been omitted for the sake of clear -ness. The caps 41 and 43 at the piston end act to prevent undue leakage of pressure along the piston and the valving action of the shoulder 29 on the latch stem 26 against the seat 30 prohibits any escape of pressure along the latch stem.

In Figures 5 and 6 there is shown a tool string holding means which may be employed in conjunction with the well head fitting previously described. It quite often happens that a well comes in as a gusher during drilling operations in which case the well string is blown through the top of the derrick creating considerable damage and entailing quite often a loss of life and property.

This means comprises a casting 66 provided with a vertical bore 67 through which the tool string 68 operates and which is provided with a base flange 69 whereby the casting may be secured either directly to the well casing 13 or may be mounted in position on the top flange 14 of the control casting previously described. The casting 66 is provided with diametrically opposed cylinders 70 and 71 closed at their outer ends by end plates 72 through which extend pressure supply pipes 73 which are branches of a main pressure supply pipe 74 which is in communication with the bore 67 through a valve 75 adapted for remote control through the cable 76. The cylinders 70 and 71 are each provided with an integral partition 77 through which slides the stem 78 of a piston having a head 79 mounted for re ciprocation on one side of the partition and having a body 80 on the other side of the Adjacent the partitions 77 pressure supply pipes 83 which are branches of a main pressure supply pipe 84 open to the interior of the cylinders. The supply pipe 84 opens to the bore 67 and is controlled by the valve 85 adapted to be manipulated from a remote control point by the cable 86. Between each of the control Valves 75, 85, and the branch points leading to the cylinders, there is disposed a-T connection for drain purdesignated as at 87 and 88 and are regulated by respective valves 89 and 90 adapted for remote control by operating cables 91 and 92.

These connections are respectively 1 Under normal service conditions the-parts are in a position illustrated in Figure 5 with the pistons 79 so disposed that then compressible terminal portions 81 are clear of the bore 67. Upon the occurrence of a 5 blow out or in case pressure builds up within the well and it is desired to remove the tool string, the control valve 75 is opened which immediately supplies pressure against the piston heads 79 forcing the pistons inwardly with respect to the bore until the terminal portions 81 clamp tightly about the string 68. Under this clamping action the string will be held against movement. When it is desired to release the clamping pressure sufliciently to permit a controlled lifting of the tool string 68, the valve 85 is opened to permit a building up of pressure between the partitions 77 andthe piston heads 79. At the same time the drain valve 89 is opened to relieve pressure against the outer ends of the pistons whereupon clamping pressure will be relieved and the pistons will move outwardly in their respective cylinders.

It is obvious that by proper manipulation of the respective valves 75, 85, 89, and 90, that the movement of the pistons may be controlled as desired and any required degree of clamping pressure may be exerted against thetool string to hold the same, the pressure being slightly released to permit lifting of the string and disassembling without allowing it to be blown out of the well.

In connection with the holding apparatus described it is important that means be provided to prevent a blow out through the stem 68. and this means is illustrated in Figure 8 wherein the lower end of the stem 68 has connection through an expansion casing 93 with the drill tool 94. Within the casing. 93 a check valve 95 is provided which is adapted to close against the seat 96 when the pressure builds up within the well casing under blow out conditions. Beneath the check valve 95 the casing wall is provided with a series of ports 97 through. which pressure is discharged back into the casing.

While in the disclosed embodiment of this invention the motive power is derived from the well. itself, it is apparent that the piston 17 may be manipulated by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure supplied from a remote point.

I claim:

1; An oil well control comprising a 'member movable across a well head to close the bore thereof, means in said member for diverting without interrupting the flow upon closing, and means for moving said member to closed and open positions by well pressure. a

' 2. An oil well control comprising a member movable by well pressure across a well head to close the same, means normally holding said member in open position,

means in said member for diverting without interrupting the Well flow during clos1ng movement, and means for controlling the rate of movement of said member through opposing well pressure.

3. An oil well control comprising a closure member adapted to be moved across a well head by well pressure, means whereby the driving end of said member is contlnuously open to well pressure, releasable latch means normally holding said member in open position, a distant control for said latch means, means in said member for d1- verting well flow during closing movement, and means for effecting a distant control of the diverted flow to regulate the closing speed of said member through back pressure of the diverted flow.

4. An oil well control comprising a closure member adapted to be moved across a well head by well pressure, means normally effecting the application of well pressure against one end of said closure member to move said member to closed position, releasable latch means normally holding said closure member open, means for diverting well flow laterally from the well head on closing movement of said closure member, and means for controlling the diverted flow to regulate the rate of movement of said closure member through back pressure of the diverted flow.

5. An oil well control comprising a well head having a lateral well flow pipe leading from the bore, a cylinder in said headv on the opposite side of the bore, a piston in said cylinder and movable therefrom across said head to close the bore, said cylinder having a passage therein to divert well flow tosaid lateral pipe on closing, means for supplying well pressure behind said piston, and means forcontrolling the well flow through said lateral pipe to regulate by back pressure the closing movement of the cylinder.

6. An oil well control comprising in combination with a well head, a baflie movable therein to shut the bore, means for moving said baflle directly by Well pressure, latch means normally holding said bafile open, distant control means for releasing said latch means, means for leading oil well flow diverted by said baffle in closing, and distant control means governing the well flow diverted by said baflle to control the movement of the bame by back pressure of the diverted well flow.

7. In a well head control, a closure member, a latch retaining said member in open position, means for supplying well pressure to said closure to operate the same on latchrelease, means for releasing said latch, means for applying well pressure against said closure to check movement thereof on latch release, and means for decreasing said chacking pressure by manual control;

8. In a well head control, a well head casting, a piston valve therein for closing the well bore, means for driving said piston valve closed by direct uncontrolled a plication of well pressure at one end 0 the valve, and means for controlling the move ment of said valve by controlled application of well pressure at the other end of said valve.

9. In a well head control, the method of moving a closure member to closed position by applyingv uncontrolled well pressure to one side thereof, and regulating its movement by application of controlled pressure to the other side thereof.

10. The method of closing a gushing well member by moving a closure valve across the well bore under direct application of well pressure, divertin the well flow by movement of the valve, an utilizing the back pressure of the diverted flow to control travel of the valve.

11. The method of controlling a gushing well consisting of closing the well bore by a member moved thereover by direct application of uncontrolled well pressure, divertin the well flow to a lateral lead off throug the closure member, and valving the led-01f flow to govern movement of the closure fi t rough back pressure of the led-01f HENRY VAN HOOYDONK. 

